Firefighters are continuing to fight a huge wildfire that erupted earlier this week near Newcastle Airport. 

Fifty-six firefighters were deployed on Wednesday after a fire broke out at Prestwick Carr, a nature reserve only three miles from Newcastle Airport. 

The blaze, in a difficult-to-reach and densely wooded area, scorched more than 5,000 square meters of the nature reserve. 

Now, four days after the fire initially started, firefighters are still on the scene tackling the blaze - with five fire engines and over 20 firefighters in Prestwick this afternoon. 

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Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have asked for the public to avoid the area, even if on foot or bike, to allow firefighters to do their jobs. 

TWFRS has also re-issued its advice to nearby residents, urging them to keep their windows closed and seek medical attention if they experience breathing difficulties.

The blaze has been said to have reached the size of five football pitches which meant crews had to walk miles in the “blistering heat” to bring the fire under control.

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Following the incident, Area Manager Paul Russell of Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service who managed the response has praised firefighters for their continuous efforts in difficult conditions.

He said: "This is a difficult response due to the location of the fire, and the weather but our firefighters have been working tirelessly through the night to keep the fire under control. 

"Today we will be stepping up our efforts again to get this fire extinguished and preserve as much of the nature reserve as we can. The drone footage we are releasing shows the scale of the damage this fire has caused, and the nature of what we have been faced with since that first emergency call.”